MCK meets with Chippewas on Enbridge court case

11/07/2016

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) wishes to inform the community that Ratsénhaienhs Bobby Patton has responded to a request from the Chippewas of the Thames Council and will meet with them tomorrow for a discussion on the upcoming Supreme Court action. He is being accompanied by MCK technician Dennis Diabo.

Last week, the MCK announced that it had been granted approval to intervene in the Supreme Court of Canada case involving the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation v. Enbridge Pipelines Inc., et al. to be heard on Wednesday, November 30th, 2016.

The appeal pertains to the National Energy Board’s (‘NEB’) approval of the Enbridge Line 9B pipeline project. The Chippewas of the Thames appealed the decision. The key question to be assessed by the Supreme Court is whether the NEB was required to undertake an analysis of the adequacy of Canada’s consultation process (in regard to First Nations) as a precondition to approving Enbridge’s application.

The Chippewas asked for the meeting in order to gain a better understand of the MCK’s role and participation in the original NEB 9B hearings in 2013, and to help strategize for the Supreme Court case. Additionally, the Chippewas will be making a presentation to the Ontario Chiefs in Toronto on Wednesday; the MCK delegation has accepted an invitation to attend the meeting to show solidarity and support to the Chippewas before intervening in the case.